Leis: I support streetcars in Cincinnati

Jul. 26, 2010

Written by

Simon L. Leis Jr.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Simon L. Leis Jr. is Hamilton County sheriff.

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A recent visit to Portland, Ore., gave me a chance to investigate Portland's streetcar, similar to what's being proposed for Cincinnati.

Portland has the best of the several rail systems I've seen. The fares are free in a large area of the central city. I used the trains extensively for four days and spent a grand total of $2.30. In another city, I might have had to spend $200-$300 to rent and park a car.

People from all walks of life ride the streetcars. Portlanders use them for commuting, shopping, attending school and for going out a night. Every streetcar was crowded, but not uncomfortably so. Disabled people were able to use the streetcars very easily.

I disagree with those who say streetcar riders will be sitting ducks for crime. Our Metro buses go from Uptown to Downtown through Over-the-Rhine all the time without problems. Why should the streetcar be different?

As long as the streetcar is heavily used throughout the day and night it will be safe. Because the route connects jobs, housing, schools and entertainment, this seems likely.

Cincinnatians of all incomes, ages, races and situations will use the Cincinnati streetcar. I will certainly ride it from my office near the courthouse up to Findlay Market for lunch.

I loved Cincinnati's old streetcars, taking them downtown from Clifton, riding the open-air cars that ran on Sundays up the Mount Adams incline to Eden Park and all around. But the new ones are much better in every way: Extremely quiet, roomier and the overhead wires are barely visible.

Cincinnati's plan to build a streetcar once seemed like a dumb idea. Now that I've seen the effects these rail systems can have on cities like Cincinnati, I support the plan. If it were up to me, I would start building the Cincinnati streetcar tomorrow.